GREENVILLE, North Carolina – With major success in economic development during 2021, North Carolina claims Site Selection’s Prosperity Cup for the second year in a row. This national award recognizes state-level economic development agency success based on a 10-point index of criteria derived largely from capital investment project activity the previous calendar year.
During 2021, North Carolina announced new projects totaling 185 business recruitments with a record-setting 24,224 new jobs created and some $10 billion in capital investment. North Carolina stands on its own this year in the top spot after tying with Georgia in first place in 2020.
“Seeing North Carolina top this prestigious list is a great honor not only for our state but for each community that contributed to project wins throughout the year,” shared Uconda Dunn, vice president of business development for the Greenville Eastern North Carolina (ENC) Alliance.
Site Selection notes North Carolina’s commitment to innovation in manufacturing and biotechnology. North Carolina is home to more than 90 life sciences companies with three located in Pitt County.
“We are proud to have a robust pharmaceutical manufacturing industry in eastern North Carolina,” said Dunn. “With our trained and available workforce, affordable tax structure, and welcoming business climate, we are a prime location to locate biotechnology companies.”
Included in the 2021 project count from the magazine was the Thermo Fisher Scientific expansion in Greenville. The world leader in serving science announced additional plans in September 2021 to expand its Greenville site for enhanced sterile liquid and lyophilized filling, pre-filled syringes, and solid dose continuous manufacturing. The $154 million investment will create 290 additional jobs with an average wage projected to be $67,397, which is more than 50 percent higher than Pitt County’s average wage of $42,801.
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Media Relations Contact:
Maria Satira
Director of Marketing and Communications
Greenville Eastern North Carolina (ENC) Alliance
satira@encalliance.com
252-414-2875
